How we made our millions: Michelle Mone and Richard Reed under the spotlight

I enjoyed watching this programme last night in which Peter Jones investigated Michelle Mone, founder of Ultimo, and Richard Reed, co-founder of Innocent in order to find out ‘How we made our millions’. The programme looked at their very different characters as Peter discussed with them their childhoods, studied their business models, asked staff what they are like to work for, and considered what it was that drove them to be entrepreneurs.

There was plenty here for both AS and A2 business students, from the characteristics of entrepreneurs to organisation structure, leadership and culture. The management style of the two could not be more different, and Jones appeared equally taken aback by the laid back style of Innocent’s offices as by the extraordinary tidiness of the Ultimo building - to say nothing of the architecture, which I will leave you to find out about!

The programme is available on i-player but only until November 20th; however it is being repeated on BBC2 on Sunday at 17.00 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and Thursday 17th at 12.30 in Scotland. Well worth encouraging your students to watch it as part of their prep this weekend!

BUSS4 - a clash of culture and a failed takeover [24 May 2012]
Simple solutions to everyday problems - Spanx [11 Mar 2012]
Characteristics of an entrepreneur - Fil Adams-Mercer [13 Dec 2011]
The Rise and Fall and Rise of Gerald Ratner [27 Nov 2011]
Lets Teach Kids to be Entrepreneurs [3 Nov 2011]
How PepsiCo are trying to control diseconomies of scale [18 Oct 2011]
Applying for a Franchise [6 Oct 2011]
Revision Presentation - Risks and Rewards to Enterprise [7 Sep 2011]
Revision Presentation - Objectives of New Businesses [6 Sep 2011]
Revision Presentation - Enterprise Skills [6 Sep 2011]
Insights from an Entrepreneur - Lara Morgan (Pacific Direct) [5 Sep 2011]
Debunking the myths of entrepreneurs and startups - a must read [28 Aug 2011]
Entrepreneurs and Calculated Risks [25 Aug 2011]
Tim Harford on why it its good for new businesses to fail [16 Jul 2011]
Michael Porter - Shared Value and the Limitations of CSR [15 Feb 2011]
Insights from an Entrepreneur - Kirsty Henshaw (Worthenshaws) [8 Jan 2011]
From crisps to vodka - a profile of a down-to-earth entrepreneur [7 Jan 2011]
Introducing the “austerity” entrepreneurs [4 Jan 2011]
Bangers for Cash - Giveacar and Social Enterprise [4 Jan 2011]
Celebrating the Everyday Entrepreneurs [29 Dec 2010]
BUSS1 Revision Quiz - Sources of Finance for a Startup [13 Dec 2010]
Start-ups - a surge in new businesses post recession [2 Nov 2010]
Hilary Devey - Profile of an Inspirational Entrepreneur [22 Oct 2010]
How to start a toy shop [12 Oct 2010]
Insights from an Entrepreneur - Laura Tenison (JoJo Maman Bebe) [11 Oct 2010]
Insights from an Entrepreneur - Fraser Doherty (SuperJam) [10 Oct 2010]
Insights from an Entrepreneur - Will King (CEO King of Shaves) [10 Oct 2010]
Business structure in the UK - the rise of micro companies [21 Sep 2010]
Why we should encourage our students to start a business at university [1 Sep 2010]
Lesson Worksheet - Enterprise & Entrepreneurs [9 Aug 2010]
Essential business reading for the summer! [5 Aug 2010]
Entrepreneurs LIVE! 2010 - THE Enterprise Event for Students in 2010 [1 Jul 2010]
New BBC Resource: Start Up Stories [25 Jun 2010]
BUSS4 - Recession Strategy Lessons from Four Female Entrepreneurs [6 Jun 2010]
Rajeeb Dey to Speak at the 2010 Business Teacher National Conference [3 Jun 2010]
British vodka beats the world! [19 May 2010]
Airlines founder plans a shareholder revolt [16 May 2010]
How to make a million before lunch! [12 Apr 2010]
Recession Survival Strategies Cost UK SMEs £16bn [31 Mar 2010]
Entrepreneurial success - Cath Kidston bucks the recession [25 Feb 2010]
OECD stats on entrepreneurship [11 Jan 2010]
School for Santas [7 Nov 2009]
Entrepreneur takes advantage of the postal strike [24 Oct 2009]
4 minutes with Stelios - insights into entrepreneurship [24 Oct 2009]
V-Water - from start up to exit [4 Oct 2009]
Meet the Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 [30 Sep 2009]
Emma Jones to speak at the Business Teacher National Conference 2010 [30 Sep 2009]
Born in the Storm - 4 Start-ups One Year On [16 Sep 2009]
Is a recession the perfect time to launch a technology start-up? [14 Sep 2009]
Icing on the cake for entrepreneurs [13 Sep 2009]
Patent Theft threatens enterprising inventors [3 Sep 2009]
Third Age Entrepreneurs drive start-up successes [1 Sep 2009]
Video case study: battling for survival in the restaurant trade [31 Aug 2009]
Banks lend more and charge more at the same time [3 Aug 2009]
Coffee Republic struggles with the daily grind [6 Jul 2009]
Entrepreneurial Brothers in Arms - The Egos Have Landed [6 Jul 2009]
Planning for a winning team [24 Jun 2009]
Introducing Teen-Trepreneur [22 Jun 2009]
Can Paid Staff Be Entrepreneurs? [22 Jun 2009]
Apprentice Stars Lack Entrepreneurial Spirit [4 Jun 2009]
Mike Southon at the Business Teacher National Conference - Friday 19 June 2009 [4 Jun 2009]
Do The Dragons Get It Right? [1 Jun 2009]
From crisps to vodka - what else can you make from potatoes? [31 May 2009]
The Dragons got this one badly wrong - the entrepreneur that got away [29 May 2009]
Q&A - What are the main personal sources of finance an entrepreneur can obtain for a start-up? [27 May 2009]
Q&A - Should a start-up raise investment from outside investors? [27 May 2009]
Q&A - What are the main things to consider when obtaining finance for a start-up? [26 May 2009]
Q&A - How can a business handle a loss? [26 May 2009]
Q&A - How is profit used by a business? [26 May 2009]
Q&A - What are the main drawbacks to an entrepreneur of starting a business [22 May 2009]
Q&A - What is meant by Social Enterprise? [22 May 2009]
AQA AS Business Unit 1 - Possible Evaluation Questions [17 May 2009]
Q&A -  What is share capital [2 May 2009]
Q&A - What are the benefits of business planning to a start-up? [1 May 2009]
Q&A - Describe the basics of setting up a business in the UK [1 May 2009]
Q&A - Does a start-up or small business need to recruit staff? [1 May 2009]
Q&A - Why should a small or start-up business employ consultants and advisers? [1 May 2009]
Q&A - What is a bank loan? [1 May 2009]
Q&A - What is unlimited liability? [1 May 2009]
Small businesses in the middle of the crunch - insights for students [22 Apr 2009]
Trading down - business class feels the pinch [17 Apr 2009]
OCR AS Unit F292 - The Real Story Behind Hoiles Crisps [25 Mar 2009]
Q&A - What is profit and why is it important? [1 Mar 2009]
Q&A - Why do start-ups find it difficult to estimate revenues? [1 Mar 2009]
Q&A - What are the disadvantages to a start-up of setting up as a franchise? [1 Mar 2009]
Q&A - What are the advantages to a start-up of being a franchise? [1 Mar 2009]
Q&A - What are the main non-financial objectives of entrepreneur starting a new business? [1 Mar 2009]
Q&A - What are the financial objectives of a new business? [1 Mar 2009]
Q&A - What are the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs? [1 Mar 2009]
Video case study - the car boot sale [27 Feb 2009]
Monopoly - irresponsible banking rears its ugly head [20 Feb 2009]
Venture capitalists leave Grasshopper Porridge hopping mad [15 Feb 2009]
Video case study - the wonder of Wellies [12 Feb 2009]
More green shoots? [12 Feb 2009]
Seeing things in black and white? [10 Feb 2009]
Video case study - flexible storage is a boom business [8 Feb 2009]
Entrepreneur case study - Clippykit [8 Feb 2009]
Video case study - Jivana Style finds niche in the greetings card market [6 Feb 2009]
Q&A - What motivates someone to start a business? [1 Feb 2009]
Q&A - What is an entrepreneur and what characteristics do entrepreneurs need to succeed? [1 Feb 2009]

BUSINESS TEACHER RESOURCE NEWSLETTER
Get first news of business teaching resources, ideas and other materials from tutor2u. Over 9,400 business teachers from the UK and around the world receive our regular teacher email newsletters. Sign up for free here!